Rear sight for firearms



QQ 294079457 5R Sept. 10, 1946.

H. F. MossBERG Search Room REAR SIGHT FOR FIREARMS Filed June 9, 1943 3;i /f-/ 2./ f /41 INVENToR iBIYraldFMossberg WQ /ATJTfoRNEY PatentedSept. 10, 1946 Search Heem REAR SIGHT FR FIREARMS Harold F. Mossberg,New Haven, Conn., assignor to Ov F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., New Haven,Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 9, 1943, Serial No.490,389

9 Claims.

. 1 This invention relates to improvements in sights for firearms andmore particularly to an adjustable rear sight having improved elevationand windage adjusting means in its structure.

One object of this invention is to provide in a rear sight for firearmsvery eicient elevation and windage adjusting means of improved form andwhich is comprised of a minimum number of components.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rear sight for afirearm of the above nature having a sight leaf adapted Ito be elevatedat one end and means at its other end adapted to adjust the elevated endlaterally.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a rear sight of theabove nature, a sight base, and a sight leaf which is so resilientlyconnected to the base as to be substantially floating in respectthereto.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved rearsight for firearms which will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture,simple in construction, of relatively few components, compact,ornamental in appearance, and very eicient and durable in use.

With the above and Iother objects in View, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, there have been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing two forms in which the invention may 'be embodied in practice.

vated position;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the sight `of this invention with theleaf in a position adjusted by the windage adjusting means; and

Figure 8 is a broken top View of a slightly modilied form of a rearsight for firearms embodying the features of this invention.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate likeparts throughout the several views, the numeral I I denotes the sightbase which has a depending dovetail member |I2 whereby the sight may bedetachably con- 2 nected -to a part of a firearm such as a receiver I3,or the barrel thereof, as indicated in Figure 1. The base II isgenerally U-shaped in crosssection having laterally spaced apart sideflanges I4 and I5 upstanding from the respective sides of the base I I.

Floatingly disposed between the side anges I4 and I5 is a sight leaf I6having lugs I'I and I8 extending from each side and at substantially thecenter thereof toward and into engagement with .the side flanges I4 andI5 respectively. The outer edge I9 of each of the lugs I'I and I8 whichis in engagement with the respective side flange is arcuate in shape,the radius of which is substantially `one-half the dimension between theopposing surfaces of the side flanges I4 and .I5 whereby the leaf I6 maypivot laterally between these flanges about the center of the arcuateedges I9.

To maintain 'the sight leaf I6 in any of its laterally adjustedpositions in respect to the side flanges .I4 and I5 leaf springs 2| and22 are provided. I'he springs 2I and 22 are identical in shape eachhaving a widened and slotted end 23, the slot 24 thereof being adaptedto receive the respective lug I1 or I8 over which this end is disposed.Each spring is bowed outwardly at a portion 25 into engagement with theadjacent side flange I4 or I5 and has its other and narrowed end 26 inengagement with .the adjacent side edge of the sight leaf I6. Clearanceslots 21 and 28 are formed in the base Il to accommodate the widenedends of the springs 2I and 22.

A post 29, having a peep hole 3 I, is secured to, or formed as a partof, the leaf I6, and is disposed adjacent the rear end 32 of the leaf I6and vertically extends upwardly therefrom. The rear end 32 of the leafI6 is widened to overlap the rear end of each of the side flanges I4:and I5. The laterally extending portions 33 and 34 at the widened end`of the leaf are each provided with a V-shaped front edge 35 adapted tot into any one of a vertical series of V notches 35 formed in the rearedge of each of the anges I4 and I5. The leaf I6 at its widened end 32is bent downwardly and further widened to form a finger engaging member31 by which the leaf I6 may be readily grasped to dispose the V-shapedfront edges '35 in a selected V notch 36 fto vary or adjust theelevation of the sight in accordance with indicia stamped, or imprinted,on the outer surface of the side flanges I4 and/or I5.

A stud 38 is rotatably secured to the front end 39 of the sight leaf I6,for instance by riveting as shown, and extends downwardly-in front ofthe front end of the base II. A coiled spring 4I is disposed in a hole42, provided in the base II for receiving the same, and reacts betweenthe base II, at the bottom of the hole 42, and the stud 38 to urge theleaf I6 forwardly to maintain the V-shaped edges 35 in the selected Vnotch 36. The base II may be cut away as at 43 to form clearance for thestud 38 f A windage screw 44 having a knurled head 45 is providedwhereon the sight leaf I6 is pivoted to swing in its elevating movementsand whereby it may be adjusted laterally to compensate for the directionand velocity of the wind wherever the firearm is being used. The screw44 is screwthreaded through the stud 38 and extends beyond this stud 38at both sides thereof in under and in rotatable engagement with theundersurface of forwardly extending lugs 46 and 4'I, which lugs areformed integral with, and extend from, the side fianges I4 and I5respectively.

vThe surface 48 of the screw head 45 is provided with a plurality ofequally spaced apart notches v49 in which a steel ball 5I is adapted toseat to releasably lock the screw 44 against accidentally turning and toindicate the amount of adjustment being made. The ball I is rotatablyheld in a hole 52 provided in the side flange I5 by slightly spinningover the edge of the hole after the ball 5I has been inserted therein,(not shown). The notched face 48 of the screw head 45 is held firmlyagainst the ball 5I by action of the springs 2l and 22 through the sightleaf I6 and the stud 38.

The modified form, illustrated in Figure 8, differs from the previouslydescribed form only in having the rear end portion of the leaf 6Iprovided as a separate part which is firmly but rotatably pivoted to theremaining front portion 62 by a pivot pin 63.

By the provision of the above described new and useful structure, animproved rear sight for firearms is provided having a sight leaf whichis readily and efficiently adjusted to compensate for the distance thetarget is from the user, or length of the range, and to compensate forthe direction and velocity of the wind. The sight of this invention isparticulaly simple in construction, of a minimum number of parts, and isaccurate and dependable in use.

The provision of a common means, the windage screw 44, to form a pivotfor the leaf I6, and an adjusting means to laterally swing the leaf,eliminates the usual use of two parts for these purposes. The provisionof the lugs I'I and I8, which form bearing members for the leaf I6 inits lateral swinging movements, permits the leaf I6 to be easily swunglaterally while in any of its elevated positions, and thus increases thelife of the sight by obviating any binding at its pivotal point,bending, or straining, of the leaf when it is elevated, and eliminatesthe usual requirement of separate and additional parts.

It will be understood that the novel features and principles of thisinvention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe spirit and essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desiredthat the present embodiment be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the claimsrather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of theinvention.

I-Iaving thus fully disclosed the invention, what is claimed as new andfor which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a rear sight for firearms, a base having spaced apart sideflanges, a sight leaf fioatingly mounted for swinging movement laterallyon said base and between said flanges, said sight leaf having lugsextending from its sides and intermediate its ends into engagement withsaid flanges and upon which said sight leaf is pivoted, and a windagescrew operably engaging one end of said leaf to laterally swing it andupon which said leaf is pivoted to swing upwardly whereby its other endmay be elevated.

2. In a rear sight for firearms, a base having spaced apart sideflanges, a sight leaf fioatingly mounted for lateral swinging movementon said base and between said flanges, means upon which said sight leafpivots in its lateral swinging movements on said base, a series ofvertically spaced V notches provided in corresponding ends of eachflange, V surfaces formed on a first end of said leaf engageable in anyselected notch in said flanges, and a windage screw operably engagingthe second end of said leaf t0 laterally swing it and upon which saidleaf is pivoted to swing upwardly whereby its first end may be elevated.

3. In a rear sight for firearms, a base having spaced apart sideflanges, a sight leaf floatingly mounted for swinging movement laterallyon said base and between said fianges, means upon which said sight leafpivots in its lateral swinging movements in respect to said base, awindage screw operably engaging one end of said leaf to laterally swingit and upon which said leaf is pivoted to swing upwardly whereby itsother end may be elevated, a head on said screw disposed outside of oneof said fianges with a face overlapping the same, a ball seated in ahole provided in the said flange, slots in the overlapping face of saidscrew head to selectively receive the ball, and resilient means reactingbetween each side of the leaf and the adjacent flange to resilientlylock the ball in the selected slot.

4. In a rear sight for firearms, a base having spaced apart sideflangesa sight leaf floatingly mounted for swinging movement laterallyon said base and between said flanges, said sight leaf having lugsextending from its sides and intermediate its ends into engagement withsaid flanges and upon which said sight leaf is pivoted, a windage screwoperably engaging one end of said leaf to laterally swing it and uponwhich said leaf is pivoted to swing upwardly whereby its other end maybe elevated, a head on said screw disposed outside of one of saidflanges with a face overlapping the same, a ball seated in a holeprovided in the said ange, slots in the overlapping face of said screwhead to selectively receive the ball, and resilient means reactingbetween each side of the leaf and the adjacent fiange to resilientlylock the ball in the selected slot.

5. In a rear sight for firearms, a base having spaced apart sideflanges, a sight leaf oatingly mounted for lateral swinging movement onsaid base and between said flanges, means upon which said sight leafpivots in its lateral swinging movements in respect to said base, saidleaf having a rear end piece pivoted thereto at a rst end thereof, aseries of vertically spaced V notches provided in corresponding ends ofeach flange, V surfaces formed on the said rear end piece engageable inany selected notch in said flanges, and a windage screw operablyengaging the second end of said leaf to laterally swing it and uponwhich said leaf is pivoted to swing upwardly whereby said rear end piecemay be elevated.

6. In a rear sight for firearms, a base having spaced apart sideflanges, a sight leaf :lioatingly Search Heem mounted for swingingmovement laterally on said base and between said flanges, said sightleaf having lugs extending from its sides into engagement with saidflanges and upon which said sight leaf is pivoted, said leaf having arear end piece pivoted thereto at a rst end thereof, a series ofvertically spaced V notches provided in corresponding ends of eachflange, V surfaces formed on the said rear end piece engageable in anyselected notch in said flanges to elevate said rear end piece, and awindage screw operably engaging the second end of said leaf to laterallyswing it and upon which said leaf is pivoted to swing upwardly wherebysaid rear end piece may be elevated.

7. In a rear sight for firearms, a base having spacedvapart sideflanges, a sight leaf disposed between said side flanges, means to pivota first end of said leaf to said base for upward swinging movement toelevate the other end of the leaf and upon which said rst end of theleaf is transversely movable, and a lug extending from each side of saidleaf into engagement with the adjacent side flange, the flange engagingend of each lug being arcuate in shape to permit lateral swinging ofsaid leaf.

8. In a rear sight for rearms, a base having spaced apart side flanges,a sight leaf disposed between said flanges, a windage screw upon which afirst end of said leaf is pivoted for upward swinging movement toelevate the other end thereof and by which said rst end of the leaf isswung laterally, and a lug extending from each side of said leafintermediate its ends into engagement with the adjacent side ange, theflange engaging end of each lug being arcuate in shape to provide apivotal bearing upon which said leaf may laterally swing.

9. In a rear sight for firearms, a base having spaced apart sideflanges, a sight leaf disposed between said side flanges, a lugextending from each side of said leaf intermediate its ends intoengagement with the adjacent side flange, the flange engaging end ofeach lug being arcuate in shape about a common center to provide apivotal bearing upon which said leaf may laterally swing, and commonmeans upon which an end of said leaf is pivoted to said base, for upwardswinging movement to permit elevation of the other end of said leaf, andto laterally swing said leaf upon operation of said common means.

HAROLD F. MOSSBERG.

